Oh oh oh
Oh I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
We are North Americans
And for those of you who still think we're from England
We're not, no.
We build our planes and our trains till we think we might die,
Far from North America,
Where the buildings are old and you might have lots of mimes.
Aha, oh, oh.
I hate the feelin' when you're looking at me that way
Cause we're North Americans
But if we act all shy, it'll make it okay
Makes it go away.

Oh I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
When we're North American
But in the end we make the same mistakes all over again
Come on North Americans

We are North American scum
We're from North America

And all the kids all the kids that want to make the scene
Here in North America
When our young kids get to read it in your magazines
We don't have those
So where's the love where's the love where's the love where's the love where's the love tonight?
But there's no love man there's no love and the kids are uptight
So throw a party till the cops come in and bust it up
Let's go North Americans
Oh you were planning it I didn't mean to interrupt
Sorry
I did it once and my parents got pretty upset
Freaked out in North America
But then I said the more I do it the better it gets

Let's rock North America

We are North American scum
We're from North America
We are North American scum
We are North American

New York's the greatest if you get someone to pay the rent
Wahoo North America
And it's the furthest you can live from the government un huh huh
Some proud American Christians might disagree
Here in North America
But New York's the only place we're keepin' them off the street
Boo boo now we can't have parties like in Spain where they go all night
Shut down in North America
Or like Berlin where they go another night, alright, un huh un huh

You see I love this place that I have grown to know
Alright, North America.
And yeah, I know you wouldn't touch us with a ten-foot pole
'Cause we're North Americans.

We are North American scum
We are North Americans
We are North American scum
We love North America

Take me back to the states man
North American scum
Where we can be all we want if we really ??
North American
Where the dj gigs are as fun
Here in North American scum
Don't blame the Canadians
Let go North America



Lyrics submitted by cheeseface2000

Track duration: 05:26

"North American Scum" as written by James Jeremiah Murphy

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


North American Scum song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I do love how regardless of the meaning of the song, it sparks interpretation of the American society instead of itself. I suppose that's the real point. We, as Americans, are caught in this limbo of believing we are the greatest country in the world, yet somehow knowing that in many ways, we are not.

    I've been to Europe. I've been all over the world. And I know from experience that people as a group are stupid, but a person is smart. It's easy to convince a person to give you a chance and, if you are not the most stereotypical American ever, be your friend. However, seeing as bands are taken in by large amounts of people at a time (love the masses), a mass ideal is formed because each person is not able to form their own judgement (or are too lazy to do so). This song perfectly embodies all the beliefs that I've had as an American overseas, as well as the doubts that form. Those statements that once I thought in all honesty become tinged with vague sarcasm to the point that I realize that I'm being self-deprecating.

    I love being an American. But I can also see where European doubters are coming from (also the belief that all Europeans hate Americans is a stereotype, by the way). It's not up to me to prove them wrong. It's up to me to give them a single instance where they aren't totally right. This song is about seeing yourself through someone else's perceptions and how they conflict with your own.
    Flag Marck1022on May 10, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I'm still making my own determinations as to the intended meaning of the lyrics (pro versus anti-American sentiment, although I suspect there is a good amount of sarcasm, here) but I'd like to say that, being from the United States, I wish Europeans could drop the xenophobic predatory front just long enough to give us a chance to show that we can be people of character and compassion. Unfortunately I think that a lot of this attitude is derived of ignorance and lack of education, not that there is an absence of that in any civilization on this rock we call Earth.
    Flag jblsurferon April 03, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:"We are not in a position to display these lyrics due to licensing restrictions.
    Sorry for the inconvinience."

    Gee, what a bummer.

    =>

    Oh, oh, oh
    Oh, oh, oh, oh
    Ooh, ooh, ooh
    Ooh

    Oh, I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
    We are North Americans
    And for those of you who still think we're from England
    we're not, no

    We've been on planes been on trains 'til we think we might die
    far from North America
    where the buildings are old and you might have lots of mimes
    Uh-huh, oh, oh

    I hate that feeling when you're looking at me that way
    'cause we're North Americans
    but if we act all shy it'll make it okay
    it makes it go away

    Oh, I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
    when we're North American
    but in the end make the same mistakes all over again
    Come on, North America

    We are North American scum
    We're from North America

    And all the kids, all the kids they want to make a scene
    here in North America
    Well, now your kids get to read it in your magazines
    We don't have those

    So where's the love, where's the love, where's the love, where's the love?
    Where's the love tonight?
    But there's no love, man
    There's no love and the kids are uptight
    Oh, oh

    So throw a party 'til the cops come in and bust it up
    Let's go, North Americans
    Are you planning it?
    I didn't mean to interrupt
    Sorry

    I did it once, and my parents got pretty upset
    Freaked out in North America
    But then I said, "The more I do it the better it gets"
    Let's rock, North America

    We are North American scum
    We're from North America
    We are North American scum
    We are North American

    New York's the greatest if you get someone to pay the rent
    Wahoo, North America
    And it's the furtherest you can live from the government
    Uh-huh, huh

    Some proud American Christians might disagree
    here in North America
    but New York's the only place we're keeping them off the streets
    Boo-hoo

    Now we can't have parties like in Spain where they go all night
    Shut down in North America
    Or like Berlin where they go another night
    All right
    Uh-huh, uh-huh

    You see, I love this place that I've grown to know
    All right, North America
    And yeah, I know you wouldn't touch us with a ten-foot-pole
    'cause we're North Americans

    We are North American scum
    We are North Americans
    We are North American scum
    We are North American

    Take me back to the States, man
    North American scum
    Where can we be one of a billion
    North American
    Where the DJ gigs aren't as fun
    Here in North American scum
    Don't blame the Canadians
    Let's go, North America
    Flag Contaminatoron April 02, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:There seems to be way too many verses in this song, when we're North American.
    Flag TheBonoboson August 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:@PlumForFun. North America is also a continent...
    Flag foreverhobbeson August 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The third line of the last phrase says: "Where we can be in any one of a million new bands".
    Flag teslacoil33on July 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I understand the overal theme of the song but what do these lines mean

    New York
    1. " And it's the furthest you can live from the government un huh huh
    2. Some fat American Christians might disagree
    Here in North America
    3. But New York's the only place we keep them off the street"

    What does he mean by furthest from the government? Is it that we don;t agree with our government? Also what does he mean by New York is the only place that keeps them of the street? How do they keep the fat christians of the streets?
    Flag HeyKarmon May 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:As much as I would love to love everyone no matter where he's from, americans have given me bad an impression about them, on the other hand,they are not so different from us.I think that it's being rather arrogant to say that americans are ignorant etc. I couldn't agree more with this song and I would like to ask everyone who thinks that every american is a douchebag to bugger off. And to every american who thinks that America is way greater than Europe, be aware that Europe is a continent ,not an single country.If it would be it would have bigger economy than America does. Little off-subject but I had to say it. So love each other and dance to the LCD Soundsystem!
    Flag PlumForFunon April 06, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Good point, Toocold. He also seems quite keen on other Manchester offspring such as The Fall (vocal stylings and lyrics in Losing My Edge and Movement etc.)
    Flag makhnoon February 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:There's one point that hasn't been mentioned yet: it sound almost exactly like Pete Shelley's "Homosapien." Clearly they're not doing anything illegal, since no action's been taken against them, but it does leave me wondering: what's the point?
    Flag Toocoldon January 13, 2011   Link

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